We can also be deceived if we look only at the spiritual manifestations in people. We need to know by the Spirit, the source of influence in these persons. Spiritual manifestations can come from three different sources: from God, from Satan, or from man’s own capacity/the human spirit. Many things that look supernatural need not always be from God. Only when the gift of discerning is in action can we know the truth, the real source. St. Paul had an eye-opening experience in this regard.
“One day, as we were going to the place of prayer, we met a slave-girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners a great deal of money by fortune-telling. While she followed Paul and us, she would cry out, ‘These men are slaves of the Most High God, who proclaim to you a way of salvation.’ She kept doing this for many days. But Paul, very much annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, ‘I order you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.’ And it came out that very hour,” (Acts 16:16-18).
Here, we see that the girl was indeed speaking the truth, that they are the ‘servants’ of the Most High God, and that they proclaim ‘the way of salvation’. Normally, when we hear such things, we might think this is of the Holy Spirit because this girl was saying the truth only. But the problem was, she spoke that truth by the spirit of divination which could also discern who the apostles really were. But through the gift of discerning of spirits, Paul perceived that the source was not God but an evil spirit. Instead of feeling ‘ok’ about the truth she was speaking, he actually became annoyed! He simply turned around and used his authority to cast the evil spirit out of her!
Discerning Demonic Spirits
This gift helps us to discern demonic spirits in people’s lives. Demonic spirits can enter the human body and they hide within. They prefer to stay undetected. They can cause certain sicknesses, moral failures, and prevent that person from growing in the Lord; they can inspire them to follow evil inclinations, and can even lead them to hell very slowly and very stealthily. Since these spirits are experts in hiding inside people, God anoints another person with the gift of discerning of spirits to expose the evil presence in persons. Once the evil is exposed it can be expelled. But the first step is to ‘detect’ its presence and it can be done only with this gift.
“And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen long years, be set free from this bondage on the Sabbath day?” (Luke 13:16).
This lady was not merely ‘sick’ of some physical ailment but was ‘made sick by the evil spirits’. Jesus who moved mightily in this gifting was able to distinguish the source of this sickness, and detect ‘the spirit’ hiding in her body.
Discerning the Atmosphere
The gift of discerning of spirits helps us also to discern the atmosphere around us. There are different kinds of atmospheres around us. This gifting will help us to discern the atmosphere around a given situation, and receive wisdom to change that atmosphere.
“Then I turned to see whose voice it was that spoke to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the lampstands I saw one like the Son of Man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash across his chest,” (Revelation 1:12-13).
Through this gift, we can discern the manifestations of the angels, whether they are from God or not. These angels are also spirits, and these manifestations also need to be discerned.
“For what human being knows what is truly human except the human spirit that is within? So also no one comprehends what is truly God’s except the Spirit of God,” (1 Corinthians 2:11).
We need to understand that except the Holy Spirit, no one can comprehend correctly what belongs to God. And the Holy Spirit reveals to us through this gift, what belongs to God and what does not belong to God. The gift of discerning of spirits helps us to discern the various ministries that are cropping up around us and around the world.
“The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him and declared, ‘Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! And John testified, ‘I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God.” (John 1:29-34).
Here we see John the Baptist confirming the ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ. His eyes and ears were opened to see and hear and know. That is the gift of discerning of spirits in operation in this area.
Unusual Anointings
There are various types of anointings of the Holy Spirit under demonstration around the world. Some are very common while some are very unusual. Peculiar anointings can be very easily misunderstood. It can be very confusing as to whether they are from God or not. Only through this gifting can we discern such peculiar anointings.
The Holy Spirit began to work many amazing miracles through St. Joseph Cupertino. Over seventy times, people say they saw him rise from the ground while offering the Mass or praying! Often he went into ecstasy and would be caught up in talking with God! Once, as Christmas carols were being sung, he soared to the high altar and knelt in the air, in ecstatic prayer! This was a peculiar anointing that manifested in this Saint. Only through the gift of discerning of the spirits can we discern these kinds of a typical anointing.
